Wednesday, 31 December 2008

Early cover treatment by BPIt's New Year's Eve and a few things are happening all at once in some amazing conflugerance (I don't think that's a word) of cosmic proportions. It's about three years since I realised I wanted to publish something myself. It was going to be a book about my friend Dan Walsh's moto-travel writing, but then he got picked up by a big publisher and offered a cash advance he'd have been insane to turn down. His book has been in the Top 10 non-fiction titles in the UK charts this year. I love books, but I understand magazines so I spoke to Ben Part (a photographer who'd never designed a magazine before) about producing a magazine focusing on flat track racing and related street bikes. He came up with the name Sideburn and we started work. There was no business plan. It takes up too much time, but we're always happy with the results and people who buy it like it on the whole, so it spurs us to make another. Then I came up with the idea of doing a blog to keep the Sideburn name in people's minds inbetween making the magazine, but professional pride has meant we want to post every day. And we do. Now there's a risk of it taking up valuable time we should be using for the magazine. And that's were the conflugerance comes in - today, New Year's Eve 2008, we will post our 500th post (this one) and have clocked up 100,000 clicks (according to Statcounter). Thanks to all the visitors. Now please buy the mag, T-shirt, stickers...Thanks and happy new year, GI

Hi people, this is the preview of my latest bike that i´ve been building during this week, it´s a 1976 Suzuki 425cc and only has 3800km in her speedo!!!!! I hope that I like you ,it´s a very "East" inspired and "BLINGS" like Bill Dodge's beautys. Well, I hope that I was able to send U the progress in a few weeks,and also I send the pictures of the CB 125cc that I built 4 months ago,It´s been showed at knucklebuster inc,wrench monkees,church of choppers and biltwell,so I think that it's deserved some atention.Well,thanks for your time.German Karp.

Only one Skooter Farm rider made it to Scunthorpe for the Short Track UK Winter Warmer. It was certainly winter, but there wasn't any warm about it. Jason, we're proud of you, but we guessed the track might be a bit cruddy.And for all those who thought he wouldn't ride his shiny, gold-leafed gem of a bike, you were wrong. 'At least I have enough shit to make my own track now,' says Jason.

Monday, 29 December 2008

Madder than trying to get an XR1200 airbourne. Emilio Scotto chose a Gold Wing to travel around the world, visiting 279 countries (I guess that must be most of them). The 500,000 miles only took him 10 years. This book looks like something you would find in the bargain bin in Woolworths (I got it as a birthday present from my brother, so it probably was), but its worthy. He makes Messrs McGregor and Boorman look like mollycoddled twats. A perfect turkey abuse come-down. Be humbled. Be inspired.BP

Sunday, 28 December 2008

Norm at Motorcycho pointed us to these at www.bikernet.com. I interviewed Seth Enslow a few years ago. He was great, happy to stand around in Sheffield with his shirt off for the photographer and let us prod his widow's peak-style scar where they bolted his skull back together. For him to attempt a record jump on that lump is just superb. It makes an XR750 looks like a CR250. Look at the shocks! Are they off Big Foot? I cannot wait to see the follow up on this. Where can we donate some money to Seth's hospital fund? GI

Thanks to Marcus Carlsson, we're now stocked in Stockholm, Sweden at the rather cool looking Sivletto (pictured). Yep, blondie works there. And they even have an in house pinstriper.We welcome all stockists and Sideburn will instantly make your retail premises that little bit more chic (you freak).Sivletto follow Glory and Choke in the US, Deus in Australia and Rocker Speed Shop in Paris. Why the hell doesn't London have anything like this?

Carpet shoeDress for the ride, not the crashOxford shirt, chinos, silk tie, tidy moustache. Sir, you are a gentleman and a example to us all.High, wide and handsomeFrom ace shooter, Tim White

'Hosted by the Baltimore County Trail Riders Association (www.bctra.org), the Timonium indoor short track races are a must-do every December. With AMA sanction the group puts on 13 races in an evening on the cement floor of the Maryland State Fairground cow palace, with classes for everyone from kids on 50cc shafties to "adults" on 100cc thumpers and the crazed on 450cc MX bikes. Bring warm clothes, ear plugs, and maybe a respirator.'

Saturday, 27 December 2008

When I was seven, I had this poster on my bedroom wall. No relatives, neighbours, or friends had motorbikes, so this was my first inspiration for the dirt and noise that many years later, I now claim as my own. (OK I haven't actually done a desert race yet). Until today I never knew the who, when, or why details of the photo. Thanks to a post on Hell For Leather, a little piece of history now has a place. Mojave California 1971. Photo Bill Eppridge. If it wasn't for this single photo, maybe I would have never gravitated to planet Sideburn.BP

Thursday, 25 December 2008

Finally got some nice weather to take some pictures of my bike. the frame is an early 90's c&j? XR750 frame that I bought on eBay. I cut it up to switch the chain drive from the right to left side. the front end is a WP off a Buell Lightning, the rims are 19" Suns laced to an A&A spool hob in the front and a Harley-Davidson hub in the rear. The gas tank is a Race Tec and seat and rear fender are from Grand Prix Glass. Rear shock is a Penske. The motor is a 76 Bonneville 750 stock for now,Carbs are Mikuni TM flatslides, 34mm. Rear brake is a Brembo from A&A with a Grimeca master cylinder. I still have to build the 2 into 1 exhaust and get some sort of lighting on it. I'm building the bike in a 12' by 12' shed that is packed with metal working equipment. i hope the pictures get to you, if they dont, please let me know. I got my shirt in the mail the other day and I can't wait to get issue number 3.Brian B, New Jersey, USA

Received this from Johnny Alpha, Sideburn's favourite DJ. It got buried, that's why he mentions a Halloween one. If you're looking for a soundtrack to a shindig look no further. You might not have heard of any of the artists, but these are beauties. And free to download.

"Great to see you Valencia man, had a ball over there. Just wanted to say cheers for the kind words on your blog and here's a couple more of my mixes you can download. Made this one a while ago but forgot to post it up Rotoshow X"

This just might be the last time I ever mention King Khan on this blog, but I got this email. We've never used this site and can't vouch for it. Looks like it costs $4.49 to download.

I'm with the independent music store AmieStreet.com. We are reaching out to a handful of music blogs to see if they are interested in our holiday promotion, where we offer our favorite albums from 2008 at a huge discount. I thought you might be interested to know about this..Follow the link below and you'll get 50% off any purchase from Amie Street; this link sends you to our Best Albums of 2008, but the discount applies to any purchase on Amie Street:Amie StreetIf you think your readers would like to use this link too, please feel free to share it with them. There's a ton of good music to choose from. Andplease drop me an email if you have any questions. Hope you enjoy! Zane

Monday, 22 December 2008

"Brudeli Tech proudly presents our new Leanster, the Brudeli 654L, a unique new vehicle providing an extraordinary riding experience. The exclusive production model Brudeli 654L is available in very limited numbers.“Making 100 metre controlled powerslides at the local dirt track oval (speedway) is a quite unbeatable feeling. Especially when this is a street-legal vehicle that you actually came cruising with to the track.” says Geir Brudeli, the inventor of the Leanster and manager of Brudeli Tech. “Then just a few minutes later you could be at a go-kart track without any change of setup, leaning 45 degrees into corners with a control superior to that of a normal motorcycle. The Leanster suspension is 100% mechanical and leaves the rider in control. It is built with the goal of boosting the motorcycle experience.” Brudeli 654L is based on a KTM 690 Supermoto. The leanster will be street legal in Europe (TÜV approved). Price: The price will be about 21000 Euros (30000 USD) (ex. VAT and ex. Works Hokksund)

Gary/BenHi guys, thought I'd drop ya a couple o pics of my street-tracker as it's now at least on the road and legal (well tax and mot anyway)Started life as a Honda FT500 Ascot (sic). Eventually it'll recieve a better tank (the XL250 one fitted is about the right size but fugly shape at the front) when thats done it'll get a proper seat pad made and a decent paintjob.Also on the lookout for a FCR or similar so I can ditch the CV carb - and hence the airbox. Then I can fit the Numberboard/sidepanel to the lhs too.It's gonna make a fun winter hack and city terrorist for the meantime, and here in Norfolk there are at least still some gravel/dirt car parks and picnic areas to practice sliding round :-)I'll bring it up to the first Lynn shorttrack round nxt year too - though only as a spectator, was seeing GI at mildenhall couple of years ago that was the inspiration for it after all.Tel, Norfolk, England

Saturday, 20 December 2008

This is a book a lot of traditional choppers guys go crazy for. No words, just B&W photos. Nice ones. That's Max Schaaf, from Sideburn 2, on the cover. Adam Wright, he who shoots and puts it all together, has just photographed a feature for Sideburn 3. Secret for now, but super exciting. And he sent us a very limited edition Hauler T-shirt. Thing is, it's too big for either Ben or me (well, Ben is huge but likes em tight). It's size L. So to win it we want to know:What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

Post it as a comment. If you post anonymously, you better sign your entry. We'll take entries till Jan 2.Our choice is final. There are no other prizes. Bon chance, mes amis!

Sideburn 21

Sideburn 20

Who?

THIS IS THE BLOG OF SIDEBURN MAGAZINE. IF YOU LIKE IT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD BUY A COPY.
Sideburn is a magazine made four times a year by Gary Inman, Ben Part and some of the best freelancers in motorcycling. It features racing, custom bikes, street trackers and great stories from all over the world. We love flat track racing, speedway and the road bikes loosely inspired by the racers plus the heroes and zeroes who line up to race them.
Sideburn also organises Dirt Quake events.
Email us at: dirt@sideburnmagazine.com